Anchor bar means for joining metal furniture tops



Se t. 29, 1959 E. c. BULLOCK ,5

ANCHOR BAR MEANS FOR Jommc METAL FURNITURE TOPS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed001;. 1'7, 1955 IN V EN TOR. EAR LE C. BU LLOCK BY AT TO R N EY Sept.29, 1959 E. c. BULLOCK 2,906,574

ANCHOR BAR MEANS FOR JOINING METAL FURNITURE TOPS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FiledOct. 17, 1955 INVENTOR.

fiTORNEY EARLE G. BULLOCK ANCHOR BAR MEANS FOR JOINING METAL FURNITURETOPS- Earle C. Bullock, East Grand Rapids, Mich., assignor to Steelcase,Inc., Grand Rapids; Mich., a corporation of Nlichigan ApplicationOctober 17, 1955, Serial No. 540,734 8 Claims. cl. 311-4 This inventionrelates to means for' anchoring the unsupported, free end of a top of aunit of metal furniture to the supported top of another unitiof metalfurniture.

More particularly, this inventiodrelates'to means for anchoring andjoining the free end of a metal table to the side of a metal desk.

The use of desks having tables extending from their sides has becomeextremely popular. ment provides both front and side working space. Mostof these units have been custom made and therefore are expensive.Another disadvantage of such custom made units is that the table issecured permanently to the desk making separation and relocation of theunits a diflicult and tedious task. Thus, when the furniture is to berearranged or moved to another ofiice the task is time consuming andsometimes almost impossible. In accordance with this invention the tableis removably mounted on the side edge of the desk.

An object of this invention is to provide a simple and easy means forattaching or securing an unsupported free end of a metal furniture topto the side edge of a' supported metal furniture top.

Another object of this invention is to provide a clamp adapted both toanchor and support the free, unsupported end of a table to the side of adesk; p

Still another object of this invention is to provide a clamp which canbe easily assembled and maybe utilized without modification of theexisting structureof metal table and desk tops.

Further an object of this" invention is to provide a means for securingand supporting the free, unsupported end of a table to a desk which isvertically offset from the table.

Other objects of this invention will become obvious upon reading thefollowing specification in conjunction with the accompanying drawings,wherein:

Fig. 1 shows in perspective the arrangement of a table and a desk havingtheir 'tops flush with the free unsupported .end .of the table supportedby the side of the desk.

Fig. 2 is an oblique view of one of the clamps."

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary bottom view of the desk and table combination ofFig. 1.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view along the'plane IV I Vof Fig. 3. p p a Fig. 5 is an enlarged, fragmentary sectionalview takenalong the plane V'V,ofFig. 3. i

' Fig. 6 is an oblique view 'of amodified desk table combination inwhich the topsof the units arei'vertically offset.

Fig. 7 is an oblique,

Such an ar'range-' anchoring one unsupported end of' a metal furnituretop to the side of another supported metal furniture top.

In accordance with this invention the two tops have edges with rigidaprons extending downwardly and wrapped under the top. An anchor barclamp is provided including an anchor bar extending along the bottom ofthe supported top and a hanger protruding from one'of its ends andsecured to the unsupported top. Intermediate the endsof theanchor bar isa fastening means adapted to be secured to "the underside of thesupported top. In one form, the anchor bar supports and anchors the topswith the aprons of. said tops abutting each other. In a midified form,the tops are at different levels.

I Fig. 1 shows the self-supporting metal desk 10 and the table 20 whichis supported at one end but free at the other; The desk 10 has onepedestalcontaining the drawer well 11 in which are mounted the drawers12. Drawer well 11 is supported by the legs 13. At its other end, thetable is supported by the leg 14. The desk 10 has a top 15 having front,back, and side aprons 16. The structure of the desk top includes'themetal panel 17 flanged "along its edges to form aprons 16. (Fig. 9). Thelower ends of the aprons 16 are wrapped under and turned inwardly toform wrapped under. flanges. The .panel 17 is supported'and stiffened byparallel hat-shapedchannels 44 extending lengthwise of teh desk.These'c'hannels 44 are welded to the bottom surface of the panel 17. Theaprons are inwardly crimped, creating a channel 18 serving as the meansor anchoring the anchor strip 81 of the'top surfacing material19.

The apron 16 is reinforced and supported by a reinforcement member 41.One end ofwthe reinforcement member 41 nests within the. lower end ofthe apron 16 and is secured thereto'by welding. The other end seats'against and is welded to the bottom surface of the panel 17. Adjacent tothis end the reinforcement member 41 has a vertical -web. V

The ,drawer well 11 is secured to the hold down angles 43 which are inturn secured, by welding or any other suitable means, to the verticalwebof the apron reinforcement member 41; Screws or bolts adapted to isfree and supported by the top 15 of the desk 10. T he top 21 has asheetlike panel 23, flangedalong its. edges to, form the front, back andside aprons 24. The lower ends of the aprons 24 are wrapped inwardly ina similar manner to that of the dish 10. The aprons 24 are inwardlycrimpedcreating a channel 25 which serves as a means for anchoringtheanchor strip 82 of th'e'topv surfacing material 27. The panel 23 isbraced and sup-f ported by a hat-shaped channel 28. extending lengthwiseof the table and welded to the undersurface (Fig. 3). In the formillustrated in Figs. 1 through '5, the deslcl 10'and table 20"are of thesame height, causing the aprons 16 and 24 .to. abut and the tops 15 and21 to be flush. The clamp 30'used to lock these fiush,.table and -anchorbar 31 of a U shaped cross section. The anchor j supporting the tabletop in the mannerlshownin Fig-6,

,, Fig. 8 is a fragmentary bottom view of the connection Briefly, thisinventionis concerned- Wi tli ameans. for

'J shaped channel -Sli dably mounted'in the channel bar 31 hasupstanding flanges 2% which are adapted to bear ,against the lower edges.of the aprons 24 .an'd 16 and thebottombf the hat-shapedchannel 44..Bolt 3 3. is provided to extendflthrou'gh the bi'ght portionofthe U-lbar 31 is a'somewhat Z-shaped gripping .unit 34 havm a'finger 36extending outfof the channel. The gripping unit 34 also'has'an L-shapedanglellqs welded to are": l

shaped section "forming a leg parallel to the verticahl 37. threaded-screw--39"-extends through threaded-holes in the vertical leg 37 andthe leg of the L-shaped angle 38, to provide a means for opening andclosing the gripping unit 36 in the channel 31. The clamp 30 also has anL-shaped hanger 32 welded to one end of the channel bar 31 and extendingupwardly. The hanger 32 has a threaded hole near its top through whichscrew 40. is threaded, for securing the hanger 32 to the apron 24.

In Figs. 4 and 5 it will be seen that the anchor bar 31 extends theentire distance from the aprons 24 and 16 to the hat-shaped channel 44and bears against the bottom surfaces of such members. Thus, the bar 31is parallel and maintains the table tops 15 and 21 in flushrelationship. The bolt 33 extending upwardly from the bight portion ofthe anchor bar 31 is inserted through one of the slots or holes 45 ofthe hold down angles 43. The nut 35 is screwed on the end of the bolt 33and tightened causing the upstanding flanges 29 of the channel 31 tobear tightly against the hat-shaped channel 44 and the bottom surfacesof the aprons 16 and 24 thus causing the table and desk tops to beflush. With the clamp 30 in place the finger 36 of the gripping unit 34,when closed, grips the inner edge of the reinforcement member 41.Tightening of the screw 39 causes the gripping unit to be moved towardthe apron 24 pulling the apron 24 tightly against the apron 16 of thedesk. The screw 40 extending through the top of the hanger member 32 andhooked.

around the apron 24, when tightened, causes the apron 24 to be pushedagainst the apron 16.

The screw 40 strikes the radius formed by the inward forming of theapron 24. This wedges the screw upwardly, assuring tight bearing betweenthe apron 24 and the sides 29 of the clamp 30. I

It should be apparent that with this arrangement the hold down angle 43bears the entire weight of the unsupported top 20. The anchor bar 31bearing against the hat-shaped channel 44 actually operates as a leverpivoted about the end which bears on the channel 44. The location. ofthe bolt 33 takes advantage of the mechanical advantage obtained by thearrangement.

The assembly of the arrangement shown in Figs. 1 to -5 is simple andshould be readily apparent. First, the desk and table 20 are arranged inthe manner shown in Fig. l, with the side apron 16 of desk 10 and theend apron 24 of table 20 aligned and abutting each other with the tabletops flush. Then the screw 40 at the end of the hanger member 32 ishooked around the apron 24. The bar 31 is properly placed with the sideflanges 29 bearing against the channel 44 and the aprons 16 and 24. Thebolt 33 is inserted through one of the aligned holes 45 of the hold downangle 43 and the nut 35 is screwed on the end of bolt 33 and tightenedsufliciently to make the table tops and 21 flush. When in this position,

the finger 36 of the gripping unit 37 is adapted to fit around and gripthe lower inside cornerof the reinforcement member 41. Thus, screw 39 istightened causing the. apron 24 to be pulled tightly against the apron16. Screw40 is tightened pushing the apron 24 more tightly against theapron 16. With the entire clampin place. and the bolts 33 and screws 39and 40 tightened, the. free end of the table is rigidly supported withthe aprons 16 and 24 in tight, abutting relationship and thetops 15 and21 flush.

Figs. 6, 7, 8, and 9 show a modified form of this invention. As will beseen from Fig. 6, .this modification relates to the joining of anunsupported end of atable to a supported desk, the table beingvertically offset from the desk top 15.

Desk 10 of Fig. 6 comprises all of the elements of the desk of Fig. 1."Forexample, there is shown the leg 14,

drawer well 11, andlegs 13 supporting Ithejtop 15. The top 15. includesthe aprons 16' crimped inwardly to form the channel 18 in which thestrip 81 for covering is, gripped, and the reinforcement hat-shapedchannels 44.- secured to the underside of the metal panel 17. Thetable'3 top. includes t e sheet meta P 4191 formeddnwnwar ly to provide theaprons 24. The aprons 24 are crimped inwardly forming the channel 25 inwhich strip 82 for the covering 27 is gripped. The hat-shapedreinforcement member 28 extends longitudinally of the table topunderneath the panel 23. The side aprons of the desk are reinforced bysomewhat V-shaped, rolled channels 80 similar in shape to thereinforcement member 41 (Fig. 9).

The side aprons 16 of the desk 10 are reinforced by rolled reinforcementmember 41, one end of which rests within the aprons and the other endbears against the panel 17 (Fig. 9). The reinforcement member 41 iswelded to both the aprons 16 and the panel 17. The hold down angle 43 iswelded to the vertical web of the reinforcement member 41.

Since this modified form of this invention is adapted to support a free,unsupported end of a table having a top vertically offset from the topof the desk the clamp 59 comprises a hanger extending downwardly to thelevel of the top 21. Hanger 55 is common to two channel anchor bars 51and 52 of U-shaped cross sections with upstanding flanges 53. Similar tothe form previously described, a bolt 54 extends through the bightportion of the U-shaped channel 51 and is adapted to be inserted in theholes 45 of the hold down angles 43. Each of the U-shaped anchor bars 51are provided with a slot 58in its upstanding flange 53 to seat the lip59 of the hanger 55. The top of the flanges 53 between the end of thebar 51 and the slots 58 is notched out at 81 to provide space for thetop horizontal flanges 60 of the hanger 55. The notch out at 81 is to adepth equal to the thickness of the material of the hanger 55 wherebythe hanger will be firmly clamped between the anchor bars 52 and thereinforcement member 41 without misalignment of the anchor bars 52.

The hanger 55 is somewhat Z-shaped, having a top flange 60 with adepending lip 59 extending downwardly, a vertical, intermediate web 61,and a foot portion 62. The foot portion 62 has an upstanding terminalflange 63 through which the screw 64 is threaded. The foot 62 with itsupstanding flange 63 forms a channel adapted to receive and seat theapron 24.

The clamp 50 is shown in operative position in Figs. 8 and 9. The anchorbars 51 and 52 are shown extending from the reinforcement member 41 tothe first hatshaped .channel 44. The bolts 54 extend upwardly throughselected ones of the holes 45 in the hold down angles 43. The nuts 65arethreaded on the end of the bolts 54, thus securing the bars 51 and 52to the desk top 15. The position of the bolts 54 in respect to thefulcrum points at the hat-shaped reinforcement produces a mechanicaladvantage which permits the angle 43 to sustain the entire weight of top21. The top horizontal flange 60 and its lip 59 are inserted and seatedin the slots 58 and the notched portions 81. Thus the flange 60 nestsbetween the reinforcement member 41 and the bars 51 and 52 and is heldtightly in that position.

The vertical section 61 extends downwardly with the foot portion 62hooked around the apron 24. The screws 64 are screwed in tightlysecuring the apron 24 in the channel of the foot portion 62 of thehanger 55. The engagement between the screws 64 and the radius at thebottom of the apron 25 urges the table top downwardly into the foot 62of the hanger 55. With this arrangement the table top 21 is rigidlysupported by the desk top 15 and is held in vertical ofiset relationshipthereto thus maintaining its top level.

Wtih this modification the desk and table are joined together easily.First the clamp is mounted underneath the desk top' 15, this beingaccomplished by placing the anchor bars 51 and 52 in-position with theflange 60 located between the bars 51 and 52 and the apron reinforcementmember 41. The bolts 54 are then inserted I through the holes 45 of thehold down angle 43. The

nuts 65 are threaded on the end of the bolt 54 until the clamp..5.0. isfirmlysecured. to the top, 15.

With the clamp 50 secured to the underside of the top 15 the table top21 is brought into position as shown in Fig. 9 and apron 24 seated inthe channel of the foot portion 62. In this position, the screws 64 aretightened thuspushing the apron 24 against the vertical section 61 ofthe hanger 55. After tightening the bolts 54 and screws 64, the tabletop 21 is firmly and rigidly supported by the top 15 of the desk and isheld in'level position in respect to the floor.

It will be seen that means have been provided for locking the side of adesk to the side of a table and supporting the free, unsupported end ofthe table. This means is quick and simple and adapted to be utilized inexisting openings in the under-structure of the table and desk. Withthis means, the table and desk can be carried into an office separately,properly located and there assembled. Units can also be easilydisassembled for rearrangement and movement of the furniture.Disassembly of the two units can be effected simply by loosening thescrews 64 sufliciently to permit the apron 24 to be lifted out of thefoot portion 62 of the hanger 55.

It should be understood that in describing this invention and themodification thereof such description has been made for purposes ofillustration only. Various modifications of this invention may be made,each without departing from the principles thereof. It should beespecially understood that this invention should not be limited by theexact structure of the table and desk shown in the specification norshould the exact structure of the clamp be considered to be the onlystructure which can be'used within the spirit of this invention. Thestructure of such clamps shall be considered to be limited only as setforth in the appended claims. Various modifications are to be consideredas included in the hereinafter appended claims unless these claims bytheir language expressly state otherwise.

I claim:

'1. In means for locking together the tops of two units of metalfurniture, each of said units having rigid depending side aprons and onetop having a free unsupported end supported by said other supported top,said supported top having a reinforcement member attached to itsunderside and arranged parallel to and spaced from the supported topsside apron, said reinforcement member extending downwardly substantiallythe same distance as said supported tops side apron, said meanscomprising: an elongated anchor bar adapted to extend underneath saidsupported top and span and bear against the apron and reinforcementmember of said supported top; at least one fastening means locatedintermediate the ends of said anchor bar for securing said barunderneath and to said supported top; a hanger member secured to one endof said bar; and clamp means on said hanger member for supporting saidside apron of said unsupported top; said fastening means being locatedproximate the apron and serving as a fulcrum whereby downward force onsaid hanger member is transmitted to the end of said anchor bar againstsaid reinforcement member.

2. In means for locking together the tops of two units of metalfurniture, each of said units having rigid depending side aprons and onetop having a free unsupported end supported by said other supported top,said supported top having a reinforcement member attached to itsunderside and arranged parallel to and spaced from the supported topsside apron, said reinforcement member extending downwardly substantiallythe same distance as said supported tops side apron, said meanscomprising: a U-shaped elongated anchor bar having upstanding flangesadapted to span and bear against the apron and reinforcement member ofsaid supported top; at least one fastening means adapted to secure saidbar underneath said supported top, a hanger member secured to one end ofeach of said bars nearest the apron of said supported top; said hangermember having clamp means for supporting said apron of said unsupportedtop to said hanger;

said fastening means being located proximate the apron:

and serving as a fulcrum whereby downward force on said hanger member istransmitted to the end of said anchor bar against said reinforcementmember.

3. In means for locking together the tops of two units of metalfurniture, each of said units having rigid depending side aprons and onetop having a free unsupported end supported by said other supported top,said supported top having an elongated reinforcement member secured toits underside and spaced from one of its side aprons; said meanscomprising a plurality of anchor bars adapted to extend underneath saidsupported top from said apron to said reinforcement member, said barsadapted to bear against said apron and said reinforcement member; atleast one fastening means located intermediate the ends of said anchorbars for securing said bars underneath and to each supported top; ahanger member secured to one end of each bar; and clamp means on saidhanger member for supporting said side apron of said unsupported topsaid fastening means being located proximate the apron and serving as afulcrum whereby downward force on said hanger member is transmitted tothe end of said anchor bar against said reinforcement member.

4. In means for locking together the tops of two units of metalfurniture, each of said units having rigid depending side aprons and onetop having a free unsupported end supported by said other supported top,said supported top having a reinforcement member attached to itsunderside and arranged parallel to and spaced from the supported topsside apron, said reinforcement member extending downwardly substantiallythe same distance as said supported tops side apron, said meanscomprising: a plurality of elongated anchor bars adapted to extendunderneath said supported top and bear against and span the apron andreinforcement member of said supported top; at least one fastening meanslocated intermediate the ends of said anchor bars for securing said barsunder neath and to said supported top; a hanger member secured to oneend of each bar; and clamp means on said hanger member for supportingsaid side apron of said unsupported top; a hanger member secured to oneend of each of said-bars and extending upwardly therefrom; means forsecuring said side apron of said unsupported top to said hanger member;and gripping members adjustably mounted on each of said bars and adaptedto grip the. understructure of said supported top; and means secured tosaid hanger member for opening and closing said gripping members wherebysaid apron of said unsupported top can be pulled into abuttingrelationship with said apron of'said supported top; said fastening meansbeing located proximate the apron and serving as a fulcrum wherebydownward force on said hanger member is transmitted to the end of saidanchor bar against said reinforcement member.

5. In means for locking together the tops of two units of metalfurniture, each of said units having an understructure for said top andrigid depending side aprons and one top having a free unsupported endsupported by said other supported top, said means comprising: aplurality of U-shaped anchor bars having upstanding flanges adapted tobear against the understructure of said supported top and against theundersides of said aprons; securing means adapted to secure said barsunderneath said supported top; a hanger member secured to one end ofeach of said bars nearest said apron and extending upwardly therefrom;means for removably securing said side apron of said unsupported top tosaid hanger member; and gripping members slidably mounted in each ofsaid U-shaped channels of said bars-and having a finger extendingupwardly to grip existing understructure of said supported top; andmeans extending through said hanger member for moving said grippingunits toward said hanger member, whereby said finger gripping saidunderstructure causes the apron of said unsupported top to be pulledinto abutting relationship with said apron of said supported top.

6. In means for locking together the tops of two units of metalfurniture, each of said units having rigid depending side aprons and onetop having a free unsupported end supported by said other supported top,said unsupported top being vertically offset from said supported top,

said supported top having a reinforcement member attached to itsunderside and arranged parallel to and spaced from the supported topsside apron, said reinforcement member extending downwardly substantiallythe same distance as said supported tops side apron, said meanscomprising: an anchor bar adapted to extend underneath said supportedtop and bear against the apron and reinforcement member of saidsupported top; at least one fastening means located intermediate theends of said anchor bar for securing said bar underneath and to saidsupported top; a hanger member secured to one end of said bar anddepending therefrom, and clamp means on said hanger member forsupporting said side apron of said unsupported end, said fastening meansbeing located proximate the apron and serving as a fulcrum wherebydownward force on said hanger member is transmitted to the end of saidanchor bar against said reinforcement member.

7. In means for locking together the tops of two units of metalfurniture, each of said units having rigid depending side aprons and onetop having a free unsupported end supported by saidother supported top,said supported top having a reinforcement member attached to itsunderside'and arranged parallel to and spaced from the supported topsside apron, said reinforcement member extending downwardly substantiallythe same distance as said supported tops side apron, said meanscomprising: a plurality of U-shaped anchor bars having upstandingflanges adapted to bear against the apron and reinforcement member ofsaid supported top, at least one fastening means adapted to secure saidbars underneath said supported top; a Z-shaped hanger member having, atop horizontal flange with a downwardly extending lip, an intermediatesection extending downwardly, and an L- shaped foot portion forming achannel with said intermediate section adapted to receive said apron. ofsaid unsupported top; said U-shaped bars each having at one end nearestsaid apron a slot and cut-out portions in its flanges adapted to seatsaid top horizontal flange and its lip; said fastening means beinglocated proximate the apron and serving as a fulcrum whereby downwardforce on said hanger member is transmitted to the end of said anchor baragainst said reinforcement member.

8. In means for locking together the tops of two units of metalfurniture, each of said units having rigid de pending side aprons andone top having a free unsupported end supported by said other supportedtop, said supported top having a reinforcement member attached to itsunderside and arranged parallel to and spaced from the supported topsside apron, said reinforcement member extending downwardly substantiallythe same distance as said supported tops side apron, said meanscomprising: a plurality of U-shaped anchor bars having upstandingflanges adapted to bear against the apron and reinforcement member ofsaid supported top, at least one fastening means adapted to secure saidbars underneath said supported top; a Z-shaped hanger member having, atop horizontal flange with a downwardly extending lip, an

intermediate section extending downwardly, and an L- shaped foot portionforming a channel with said intermediate section adapted to receive saidapron of said unsupported top; said U-shaped bars each having at one endnearest said apron a slot and cut-out portions in its flanges adapted toseat said top horizontal flange and its lip; and means on said footportion for removably securing said apron of said unsupporting top insaid channel formed by said foot portion and said intermediate section,said fastening means being located proximate the apron and serving as afulcrum whereby downward force onsaid hangermember is transmitted to theend of said anchor bar against said reinforcement member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,110,948 Langdon Sept. .15, 1914 1,741,904 Avrutik Dec. 31, 19292,296,782 Fischer Sept. 22, 1942 2,297,647 Chason Sept. 29, 19422,565,065 Chakeres Aug. 21, 1951 2,729,064 Kennedy Jan. 3, 19562,759,779 Bergman Aug. 21, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS 324,501 France Sept. 17,1902

